Means for forming the bodies of elevator-buckets



(No'ModeL) F. H. O. MEY,

MEANS FOR FORMING THE BODIES 0P ELEVATOR BUGKETS;

No. 250,157. a Fm.

Ft t n Z JV Patented Nov. 29,1881.

Inventor Jydamg.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIO H. G. MEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR FORMING THE BODIES OF ELEVATOR-BUCKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 250,157, dated November 29, 1881. Application filed June 24, 1sa1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC H. C. MEY, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements on a Means for Forming the Bodies of Elevator-Buckets; and Idoherebydeclare that the followin g description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable'others skilled in the art to nhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has general reference to means for folding and bending the bodies of elevator-buckets, substantially as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings already mentioned, which serve to illustrate my said invention more fully, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bender or former. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of a body for elevator-buckets previous to its being formed. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same after being formed.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

The object of my presentinvention is the production of simple and convenient means for bending the bodies of elevator-buckets previous to their being seamed to the heads. To attain this result I construct a former of a bedplate, A, having on its rear end two upwardlyprojecting lugs, B B, for the reception of a cam-lever, G D. Upon this bed-plate A, I provide a slide, E, operating in guides F F, said slide having on its forward end an upwardlyprojecting flange, G, for the object hereinafter to be referred to.

On the forward end of the bed-plate A is a downwardly-projecting flange, H, to which is secured, by means of screws, h, a former, I, having the contour of a formed body, L, said former being readily removed from the plate A, and different one substituted, so as to enable me to form all the different bodies on one machine.

To the flange G of the slide E is secured by a bolt, 9, or similar means, a strap, J, made preferably of strong leather, and ending in a stirrup, K, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The sheet L, Fig. 3, to be formed into a body is first folded on opposite edges in an ordinary folder, so as to produce thereon the crimps a. Into these crimps I'then place two strips, M, of some flexible material or metal, thin band or hoop iron being preferred, and hold these in position by means of a bifurcated slat, N. The sheet being thus prepared, is placed upon the bed-plate A and the strap J passed over the same, after which the lever G is actuated so as to move the slide E forward towardthe former I to clamp the sheet L between said former and the flange G. Now the operator places his foot into the stirup K and presses the same downward, which will cause the sheet L to be bent over the former I, and

thereby to assume its proper shape. Now the flexible strips M and slat N are withdrawn from the formed body L and straightened'out to be used over again in forming the next body.

It will be readily observed that by means of the device described bodies for elevaton buckets may be readily formed into proper shape, and that the operation is so simple as to be readily performed by unskilled labor, thus greatly lessening the expense of manufacturing elevator-buckets.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a machine for forming the bodies of elevator-buckets the means for preventing the collapsing of the folded edges of said bodies during the operation of forming, consisting, essentially, of the flexible strips M and the clamping-slat N, substantially as and for the purpose indicated.

2. The method of forming the bodies of elevator-buckets hereinbefore described, consisting, essentially, in first folding two parallel edges of a sheet, L, then placing flexible strips M into thefolds, then loeking'the flexible strips into position, and finally bending the sheet over a suitable former, substantially in the manner as and for the object specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 

